The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has approved an additional N30 billion for the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to procure and install free meters for unmetered customers, raising total approvals under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) scheme to N79 billion.
The latest approval, which represents the third tranche of the intervention, is aimed at accelerating meter deployment, reducing revenue losses and improving service delivery across the electricity distribution segment.
In Order No. NERC/2026/121, effective November 2, 2026, the Commission said the N30 billion would be shared among the 11 DisCos in proportion to their respective contributions to the fund as at the July 2026 market settlement.
The latest approval follows earlier disbursement approvals of N21 billion under Tranche A and N28 billion under Tranche B, bringing the total approved funding to N79 billion.
According to the Commission, the third tranche is specifically designed to meter all remaining unmetered Band A customers while accelerating the closure of the metering gap among customers in Band B.
NERC directed the DisCos to deploy the funds for the procurement and installation of meters for unmetered Band A and B customers within their respective franchise areas.
The intervention comes amid a significant metering deficit in the power sector. NERC’s data showed that Nigeria had a national metering rate of 63.10 per cent as at August 2026, with only 8.05 million of the 12.75 million active electricity customers having meters.
This leaves approximately 4.7 million customers without meters.
The Commission said the MAF intervention was intended to accelerate meter rollout, close the existing metering gap, reduce commercial and collection losses suffered by DisCos, improve service quality and enhance customer satisfaction.
It, however, emphasised that meters procured under the scheme must be supplied and installed free of charge, warning against any attempt to transfer the cost to electricity consumers.
NERC also directed that every meter deployed under the arrangement must prominently display the name of the relevant DisCo, the applicable MAF tranche and the inscription, “NOT FOR SALE”.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the regulator mandated the DisCos to conduct open procurement processes within 10 days for the selection of eligible Local Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers (LMMAs) and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) with verified meter stocks ready for deployment.
The distribution companies are also required to submit details of their selected providers and available meter inventories to the Commission within 15 days for a no-objection approval.
The submissions must include meter categories, brands, serial numbers and locations of the available stocks.
To guard against inflated procurement costs, NERC adopted the median national MAP online bid price from the September 2026 bidding cycle as the maximum procurement price for each meter category.
The Commission further prescribed a two-stage payment arrangement for selected meter providers, with 70 per cent of the contract sum payable after verification of meter deliveries and the remaining 30 per cent released upon confirmation of complete installation.
Under the arrangement, selected providers are expected to deliver all contracted meter quantities to the respective DisCos’ warehouses within seven days of securing the Commission’s no-objection approval.
The Order also addresses the issue of connection relocation, stipulating that where a DisCo initiates the relocation of an existing customer’s connection point for revenue protection purposes, the company must bear the associated cost.
NERC warned that sanctions would be imposed where defaults by DisCos impede meter installations.
It also directed the Fund Manager, participating DisCos and meter providers to comply with the prescribed monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
The Commission has set May 31, 2027, as the deadline for completing all meter installations under the third tranche.
- APM Gov Candidate, Urges Lagosians To Embrace Reset Over Continuity - November 10, 2026
- Opposition Condemns Tinubu’s Campaign, Calls For Account Of Administration’s Record - November 10, 2026
- Poverty, Hardship Pushing Nigerians To Seek Change Of Govt – Group - November 10, 2026